Slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater

ABSTRACT

A slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater is described. The slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater includes a first heat conductive plate, a second heat conductive plate, a heat conductive pipe sandwiched in the first heat conductive plate and the second heat conductive plate, and a plurality of band heaters encircling the first heat conductive plate and the second heat conductive plate to respectively heat the water in the heat conductive pipe.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a slim type water heater. More particularly, this invention relates to a slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Water heaters can be classified into solar water heaters, electric water heaters and gas water heaters. Solar water heaters are the safest. With solar water heaters gas explosions and gas poisoning cannot occur. Furthermore electric leakage also cannot occur. However, the area of the solar panel used to gather the solar energy and the volume of the water tank, the solar water heater with the solar panel requires a larger volume compared with the other water heaters. Therefore, multi-storey buildings in the metropolis or houses located in areas without enough sunshine cannot use a solar water heater.

The gas water heater is convenient to the user but dangerous to the user due to consumption of oxygen when burning the gas. If there is not enough air, the combustion may generate carbon monoxide and poison the user. Therefore, the gas water heater has to be fixed in an outdoor place where the air can freely flow. In addition, the gas water heater includes a big combustion chamber and gas pipe to supply the gas. Hence, the gas water heater is normally fixed on the veranda and occupies quite a large volume on the veranda.

The electric water heater can directly use the settled indoor electric power line to get the electric power. The electric power lines are available in most areas of the metropolis, and especially in the buildings in the metropolis. The electric water heater is convenient to use but has quite a large volume. Therefore, there is a need to further reduce the volume of the electric water heater.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One objective of the present invention is to provide a slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater with a small volume and automatic temperature control to effectively increase the security for use and the convenience for installation.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the objective of the present invention, as the embodiment broadly describes herein, the present invention provides a slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater including a first heat conductive plate, a second heat conductive plate, a heat conductive pipe and a plurality of band heaters. The first heat conductive plate is disposed parallel to the second heat conductive plate and the heat conductive pipe is sandwiched in the first heat conductive plate and the second heat conductive plate. The band heaters encircle the first heat conductive plate and the second heat conductive plate to heat the water in the heat conductive pipe.

The first heat conductive plate and the second heat conductive plate are made of copper plates and the dimensions thereof are about 250 millimeters by 500 millimeters by 1.5 millimeters. The heat conductive pipe is preferably a ½ inch (about 12 millimeters) copper tube. The heat conductive pipe comprises a plurality of U-shaped copper tubes and is preferably bent by a copper pipe. The foregoing dimensions of the copper plates and the copper tube are an embodiment to illustrate the present invention rather than limiting of the present invention and the dimension variations thereof are still within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The band heaters preferably include seven sets of 1.0 KW band heaters. In addition, the first heat conductive plate or the second heat conductive plate further comprises a plurality of trenches to fit the heat conductive pipe therein to increase the contact area there between. The heat conductive pipe is preferably soldered on at least one of the first heat conductive plate and the second heat conductive plate.

The slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater can further include a flow meter disposed on the heat conductive pipe to measure the water flow rate in the heat conductive pipe, and a thermometer disposed near the water outlet of the heat conductive pipe to measure the water temperature in the heat conductive pipe. The slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater can further include a temperature adjusting device to set the desired water temperature and a controller to control the temperature of the water in the heat conductive pipe to the desired water temperature. The temperature adjusting device further preferably includes at least one temperature control key to adjust the desired water temperature and a display to show the desired water temperature.

Hence, the slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater according to the present invention utilizes the band heaters to heat the copper plates and the heat conductive pipe disposed therein so as to effectively reduce the volume of the electric water heater. In addition, with the thermometer, the flow meter and a plurality of band heaters independently heating the water flowing in the heat conductive pipe, the controller can effectively and automatically adjust the water near the water outlet to the desired temperature to provide stable hot water to the users. Therefore, the electric water heater can be safer and more convenient

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 illustrates an internal structure of the preferred embodiment of the slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following description is of the best presently contemplated mode of carrying out the present invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined by referencing the appended claims.

Referring to FIG.1 and FIG. 2. FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater according to the present invention and FIG. 2 illustrates the internal structure thereof. The slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater 100 includes a slim casing 110, and a display 120, a temperature control key 130 and a temperature control key 140 disposed thereon. A water inlet 150 and a water outlet 160 are disposed on the casing 110. The display 120 can show the water temperature, or a current setting temperature while setting a desired water temperature with the temperature control key 130 and the temperature control key 140.

FIG. 2 illustrates the internal structure of the slim type automatic temperature controlled Water heater. The slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater 200 includes a heat conductive pipe 220, a heat conductive plate 210 and two heat conductive plates 250. The two heat conductive plates 250 are disposed in parallel and the heat conductive pipe 220 is sandwiched in the heat conductive plate 210 and the heat conductive plate 250. The heat conductive plate 210 and the heat conductive plate 250 are preferably made of copper plates, for example, 250 millimeters (mm) wide by 500 millimeters long by 1.5 millimeters thick copper plates. The heat conductive pipe 220 is preferably made of a copper tube to form a plurality of U-shaped heat conductive tubes, for example, a bent ½ inch (about 12 mm) copper tube. The foregoing dimensions of the copper plates and the copper tube are an embodiment to illustrate the present invention rather than limiting of the present invention and the dimension variations thereof are still within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The heat conductive pipe 220 can be soldered on the heat conductive plate 250 and sandwiched in the heat conductive plate 210 and heat conductive plate 250. In addition, the heat conductive plate 250 can further include trenches 252 thereon to increase the contact area between the heat conductive pipe 220 and the heat conductive plate 250. The heat conductive plate 210 can also include trenches thereon to further increase the contact area of the heat conductive pipe 220 and the heat conductive plate 210. Alternatively, the heat conductive plate 210 and the heat conductive plate 250 can be made of metal plate without trenches thereon. The heat conductive pipe 220 can be soldered on the heat conductive plate 210 and the heat conductive plate 250 made of flat metal plates.

After the heat conductive plate 210 and the heat conductive plate 250 sandwich the heat conductive pipe 220, a plurality of band heaters 260 encircle the heat conductive plate 210 and the heat conductive plate 250. The band heaters 260 correspond to the U-shaped conductive tubes of the heat conductive pipe 220 to locally heat the heat conductive plate 210 and the heat conductive plate 250, and further to heat the corresponding U-shaped conductive tubes to effectively control the water temperature of the slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater 200. In a preferred embodiment, the seven sets of the band heaters 260 are respectively fixed on the heat conductive plate 210 and the heat conductive plate 250 and correspond to the seven U-shaped portions of the heat conductive pipe 220. Therefore, the controller 270 can respectively control the band heaters 260 to locally heat the corresponding U-shaped portion of the heat conductive pipe 220 to control the water temperature at the water outlet of the slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater 200.

The slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater 200 further includes a flow meter 230 disposed at a water inlet 222 of the heat conductive pipe 220 and a thermometer 240 disposed at a water outlet 224 of the heat conductive pipe 220. The flow meter 230 and the thermometer 240 both connect to the controller 270 to send the measured data to the controller 270. The controller 270 further controls the band heaters 260 to adjust the water temperature. The controller 270 further connects to a temperature adjusting device 280, for example, the display 120, the temperature control key 130 and the temperature control key 140 shown on FIG. 1. Therefore, a user can adjust the water temperature near the water outlet of the slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater to a desired temperature.

Hence, the slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater according to the present invention can quickly and stably provide hot water at the desired temperature. In addition, due to the slim type design, the slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater according to the present invention can be easily installed in any place. When adopting seven sets of 220V˜240V 1KW band heaters, the water can be heated to the desired temperature in about 15 seconds. When the band heaters are out of order, the band heaters can be conveniently repaired or replaced. Therefore, the slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater according to the present invention can be easily installed, repaired and stably provide the hot water at the desired temperature.

As is understood by a person skilled in the art, the foregoing preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrative of the present invention rather than limiting of the present invention. It is intended that various modifications and similar arrangements be included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures. 

1. A slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater, comprising: a first heat conductive plate; a second heat conductive plate disposed parallel to the first heat conductive plate; a heat conductive pipe sandwiched in the first heat conductive plate and the second heat conductive plate; and a plurality of band heaters encircling the first heat conductive plate and the second heat conductive plate to heat a water in the heat conductive pipe.
 2. The slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater of claim 1, wherein the first heat conductive plate and the second heat conductive plate are made of copper plates.
 3. The slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater of claim 2, wherein the dimensions of the copper plates are about 250 millimeters by 500 millimeters by 1.5 millimeters.
 4. The slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater of claim 3, wherein the heat conductive pipe is a ½ inch copper tube.
 5. The slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater of claim 4, wherein the band heaters comprise seven sets of 1 KW band heaters.
 6. The slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater of claim 1, wherein the second heat conductive plate further comprises a plurality of trenches to fit the heat conductive pipe therein.
 7. The slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater of claim 1, wherein the heat conductive pipe is soldered on the second heat conductive plate.
 8. The slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater of claim 1, wherein the heat conductive pipe comprises a plurality of U-shaped copper tubes.
 9. The slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater of claim 1, further comprising a flow meter disposed on the heat conductive pipe to measure a water flow rate in the heat conductive pipe.
 10. The slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater of claim 9, further comprising a thermometer disposed near a water outlet of the heat conductive pipe to measure a water temperature in the heat conductive pipe.
 11. The slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater of claim 10, further comprising: a temperature adjusting device to set a desired water temperature; and a controller connected to the temperature adjusting device, the thermometer and the band heaters to adjust the water in the heat conductive pipe to the desired water temperature.
 12. The slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater of claim 11, wherein the temperature adjusting device further comprising: at least one temperature control key to adjust the desired water temperature; and a display to display the desired water temperature.
 13. A slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater, comprising: a first heat conductive plate; a second heat conductive plate disposed parallel to the first heat conductive plate; a heat conductive pipe comprising a plurality of U-shaped copper tubes sandwiched in the first heat conductive plate and the second heat conductive plate; a plurality of band heaters encircling the first heat conductive plate and the second heat conductive plate to heat a water in the heat conductive pipe; a thermometer disposed near a water outlet of the heat conductive pipe to measure a water temperature in the heat conductive pipe; a temperature adjusting device to set a desired water temperature; and a controller connected to the temperature adjusting device, the thermometer and the band heaters to adjust the water in the heat conductive pipe to the desired water temperature.
 14. The slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater of claim 13, wherein the first heat conductive plate and the second heat conductive plate are made of 250 millimeters by 500 millimeters by 1.5 millimeters copper plates.
 15. The slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater of claim 14, wherein the heat conductive pipe is a ½ inch copper tube.
 16. The slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater of claim 15, wherein the band heaters comprise seven sets of 1 KW band heaters.
 17. The slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater of claim 13, wherein the second heat conductive plate further comprises a plurality of trenches to fit the heat conductive pipe therein.
 18. The slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater of claim 13, wherein the heat conductive pipe is soldered on the second heat conductive plate.
 19. The slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater of claim 13, further comprising a flow meter disposed on the heat conductive pipe to measure a water flow rate in the heat conductive pipe.
 20. The slim type automatic temperature controlled water heater of claim 13, wherein the temperature adjusting device further comprising: at least one temperature control key to adjust the desired water temperature; and a display to display the desired water temperature. 